Trail camera ethics

[Ryan P]

Just to be clear. I am not under the illusion that just because I peed on the fire hydrant first means I own it. I would just look at it like if I knew someone already was monitoring a spot that maybe I should find a new one because I know someone else will be hunting it. Also I wouldn't mess with there camera and delete everything. All that did was reassure me they're musta been something really good he didn't want me to see on it.

[Lumpy Taters]

No they left you a message.  Plain and simple.  Had one of mine in a spot over a wallow for 2 years.  Once another human found it then it got spray painted the cable lock cut off it and the card taken. They left the camera so I would find it.  Why else leave the camera when they could have easily taken it?  Some people just don't give an S and don't have any respect for other people's property

[GWP]

Set up a trail cam that sprays paint all directions if the card access is messed with unless 'locked out'!
 

If the cam is legal to be there, the cam is private property, and no one should touch or damage it.
As to hunting on public lands, that spot, and all others, is FAIR GAME.
Period.
If you can work something out, fine, but do NOT demand they leave. They own it too.

The State is getting more crowded. I doubt there are many 'secret' spots left that some human has not traversed. If someone sets up a camp on public lands and believes no one else should hunt 'their' spot, they are delusional.
How far does it extend? What timeframe?

I know this is a controversial issue, but I certainly have seen it get out of hand. More so in recent years. All the camera's and baiting make it even worse.
 
If there is another hunter in the spot I have picked, I will probably leave rather than hunt with them just because you do not know if they are safe to be around.
I stopped hunting with others many years ago after seeing people I was around take bad shots, waving the muzzle of a loaded firearm around, using the scope of a loaded firearm to 'check someone out', walking with a loaded firearm with the safety off because 'it's quicker', drinking, and just being general slobs. The list goes on and on.

While it would be nice for everyone to get along, it ain't going to happen, because generally speaking, humans suck.

[Taco280AI]

Public land is fair game. Just because there's a cam up doesn't mean the cam owner will hunt that spot. Now if hunting day comes around and there's someone there first I'll move off to another spot.

The other issue: leave people's property alone. It's that simple.

[Ryan P]

That's a good perspective. Just seems weird really. Special permit area. 44 tags. 248k acres. Same spot. Is what it is. For all I know he's the best guy. Maybe he'll help me pack a bull... time will tell.

[Mallardmasher]

If someone beats you to your opening day duck spot on public ground. You move to find another spot, not climb in the blind with them. But I agree, no need to mess with anyone’s property.

[hunter399]

If someone beats you to your opening day duck spot on public ground. You move to find another spot, not climb in the blind with them. But I agree, no need to mess with anyone’s property.

No worries man.
No blind,no tree stand.
Just my lawn chair 
And my new hunting partner stuff,if they want a chair they got to bring there own.

[Ingwe]

If someone is in what you consider your spot on public land move on. Don’t be a jerk.

[GWP]

Sooooo,
I hunted a spot for many years in the same area. Wide open, plenty of room. I would occasionally see another hunter over the years.
An outfitter started using the same area. Fine. Still enough room for both of us.
Two more moved into the same basic area the next year, so now there are three, THREE different outfitters on the same mountain. Talked to two of them. They both thought I should move to a different mountain because, well, they are outfitters and want happy clients.
Great.
I cannot spend 3 weeks before season to get there and set up ahead of them.
I guess that means I should just move on?

I actually did, as the area was now crowded, and it seemed they couldn't care less about screwing up my hunt as long as 'they got theirs'.

I would be curious how attitudes on some here would change if they had the same thing happen to them?
I had that happen here in Wa and also about the same in MT when I lived there.

I have learned, in my old age, to not be so dogmatic in my opinion until I have walked in the same shoes in the same experience as the ones with different experiences.

[LDennis24]

Public land is fair game. Just because there's a cam up doesn't mean the cam owner will hunt that spot. Now if hunting day comes around and there's someone there first I'll move off to another spot.

The other issue: leave people's property alone. It's that simple.

Some posts on this thread clearly show that people with cams up on public land think it's "their spot". If I want to hunt a certain spot and don't see you around and there is a cam up. Maybe i will put a piece of tape over the sensor and sit and hunt it. When I'm done hunting, I'll remove the tape and go on about my business. I don't care if it bothers people. I don't want to have 200 pics of me sitting on your camera and I don't believe for a second that you have any right to that spot because you have been putting out bait for X number of years or because you have a camera there. If I get to a spot I wanted to hunt, no matter where it is, and someone is already there, I'm moving to another spot. Some people's kids....

[Ryan P]

I didn't realize how polarizing of a topic this would be... lol

I cant control if someone messes with my camera or puts a salt block in not "my spot". Just a spot that I have been scouting for a year now. Hopefully for the both of us he has a different tag

so we don't screw each other up. I'm sure he was just as disappointed to find my camera as I was to find his salt block. Drawing permits is hard and puts a ton of extra pressure on filling your

tags. It'll probably be another 10-15 years before a chance to pull it again. Reacting to jerk behavior with more jerk behavior doesn't do anything for anyone. Doesn't sound like the

experience I was excited about in June to ague with another hunter or ruin my hunt to spite someone else. There's enough elk to go around.

[hunter399]

Just put your cam up on public land ,so you can get my weirdo pics that I'll leave on your cam .

[Whitefoot]

 

Here is what I use.

https://www.amazon.com/Master-Lock-8417D-Python-Keyed/dp/B000XTPNZK/ref=mp_s_a_1_1_sspa?crid=WOJV24HOIF23&keywords=cable+lock+for+trail+camera&qid=1694879538&sprefix=cable+lock%2Caps%2C386&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9waG9uZV9zZWFyY2hfYXRm&psc=1

I take two tree stand steps.
Screw into the tree,two feet or so from the ground.
Stand on steps,put cam up as high as you can.
Put stick behind cam to point it the direction you want.
Lock with cable.
Make sure to take steps with ya when you leave.
Make them work for it.

[Jake Dogfish]

Just do what Kansas did, and all these issues go away. 

[GASoline71]

Just do what Kansas did, and all these issues go away. 

I'm for it.   

Gary